Obesity during childhood is associated with higher cancer mortality rate during adulthood: the i3C Consortium

Joel Nuotio,Tomi T Laitinen,Julia Steinberger,Stephen R Daniels,Elaine M Urbina,Trudy L Burns,Alan R Sinaiko,Alison Venn ,Lydia A Bazzano,Nina Hutri‐Kähönen ,Ronald J Prineas,David R Jacobs,Markus Juonala,Jessica G Woo,David Burgner ,Matthew A Sabin,Heikki Minn,Costan G Magnussen,Jorma Viikari ,Olli T Raitakari,Terence Dwyer

doi:10.1038/s41366-021-01000-3

Abstract

BackgroundIn high-income countries, cancer is the leading cause of death among middle-aged adults. Prospective data on the effects of childhood risk exposures on subsequent cancer mortality are scarce.MethodsWe examined whether childhood body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, glucose and lipid levels were associated with adult cancer mortality, using data from 21,012 children enrolled aged 3–19 years in seven prospective cohort studies from the U.S., Australia, and Finland that have followed participants from childhood into adulthood. Cancer mortality (cancer as a primary or secondary cause of death) was captured using registries.Results354 cancer deaths occurred over the follow-up. In age-, sex, and cohort-adjusted analyses, childhood BMI (Hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.24 per 1-SD increase) and childhood glucose (HR 1.22; 95%CI 1.01–1.47 per 1-SD increase), were associated with subsequent cancer mortality. In a multivariable analysis adjusted for age, sex, cohort, and childhood measures of fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure, childhood BMI remained as an independent predictor of subsequent cancer mortality (HR, 1.24; 95%CI, 1.03–1.49). The association of childhood BMI and subsequent cancer mortality persisted after adjustment for adulthood BMI (HR for childhood BMI, 1.35; 95%CI 1.12–1.63).ConclusionsHigher childhood BMI was independently associated with increased overall cancer mortality.

Highlights

In high-income countries, cancer is the leading cause of mortality among middle-aged adults [1]
The study sample consisted of 21,012 participants (9740 males and 11,272 females) with a mean age of 9.9 ± 3.9 years at baseline
There were altogether 354 cancer deaths among study participants, Fifth, we compared the risk of subsequent cancer mortality between participants with childhood body mass index (BMI) > 95th percentile and childhood BMI ≤ 95th percentile

Summary

Introduction

In high-income countries, cancer is the leading cause of mortality among middle-aged adults [1]. In high-income countries, cancer is the leading cause of death among middle-aged adults. METHODS: We examined whether childhood body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, glucose and lipid levels were associated with adult cancer mortality, using data from 21,012 children enrolled aged 3–19 years in seven prospective cohort studies from the U.S, Australia, and Finland that have followed participants from childhood into adulthood. In age-, sex, and cohort-adjusted analyses, childhood BMI (Hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.24 per 1-SD increase) and childhood glucose (HR 1.22; 95%CI 1.01–1.47 per 1-SD increase), were associated with subsequent cancer mortality. In a multivariable analysis adjusted for age, sex, cohort, and childhood measures of fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure, childhood BMI remained as an independent predictor of subsequent cancer mortality (HR, 1.24; 95%CI, 1.03–1.49).

Methods

Results

Conclusion